Critics of Hong Kong firm CK Hutchison Holdings over a deal to sell its ports around the world – including two at the Panama Canal – should “pause and calm down,” a senior lawmaker in the city has said.

China's market regulator said it will review Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's sale of Panama Canal ports to a US-led consortium, a Beijing-backed newspaper in Hong Kong reported on Friday. The State Administration for Market Regulation was "aware of this transaction and will conduct a review in accordance with the law,

Beijing’s public pressure campaign against CK Hutchison portends a growing effort by the CCP to control Hong Kong’s independent business interests.